Creating presentations in Google Slides allows you to add various objects like images, shapes, charts, and text boxes to enhance your slides. However, handling multiple objects can get disorganized, especially when they overlap or scatter across the slide.
Fortunately, Google Slides provides a handy “Group” tool to organize multiple objects by binding them together.
Grouping objects helps create consistent designs and makes it easy to move elements together as one unit. You can also apply various formatting options like color, size, effects, etc. to the group simultaneously.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step instructions to group objects in Google Slides.
Why Group Objects in Google Slides?
Here are some prominent reasons why you should use the grouping tool:
1. Move Objects Seamlessly
Grouping binds objects together so you can move them simultaneously by dragging the group. This saves the hassle of selecting each object individually every time you need to reposition them.
2. Resize Objects Consistently
When objects are grouped, resizing the group would resize all objects proportionally. This helps maintain consistent dimensions across objects.
3. Organize Complex Layouts
For slides with overlapping objects or multi-layered illustrations, grouping simplifies editing by letting you manage objects together.
4. Apply Bulk Formatting
You can change the color, add borders or effects, etc. to the group as a whole instead of styling individual objects. This saves time and effort.
5. Align and Distribute Objects
The “Distribute” and “Align” tools help organize grouped objects by evenly spacing them and aligning their edges.
How to Group Objects in Google Slides
Follow these simple steps to group objects in Google Slides:
Step 1: Select the Objects
- Open the presentation and navigate to the slide containing objects.
- Click the first object you want to group.
- Hold the “CTRL” key in Windows or “Command” key on Mac.
- Keep the key pressed and select additional objects to group.
Step 2: Click Group
- With objects selected, click the “Arrange” menu.
- Choose the “Group” option.
Alternatively, you can right-click and select “Group” or use the keyboard shortcuts:
- Windows: Ctrl + Alt + G
- Mac: ⌘ + Alt + G
The selected objects are now grouped together.
Gif showing how to group objects in Google slides
Step 3: Ungroup Objects (Optional)
To ungroup objects, select the group and click “Arrange” > “Ungroup” or right-click > “Ungroup”. You can also use:
- Windows: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G
- Mac: ⌘ + Alt + Shift + G
Ungrouping separates the objects again so you can edit them individually.
And that’s it! By using the group tool, you can now easily organize and format multiple objects cohesively to create polished presentations.
Handy Tips for Grouping Objects in Google Slides
Keep these tips in mind when grouping objects in Google Slides:
- Only objects within the same slide can be grouped.
- You can group images, shapes, charts but not text boxes or tables.
- Hold “Shift” when selecting to group non-adjacent objects.
- Ungroup to edit individual objects when needed.
- Align and distribute grouped objects for organized layouts.
- Use grouping to create reusable slide elements.
Common Google Slides Grouping Issues and Solutions
While working with groups in Google Slides, you may encounter certain issues. Here are some common problems and ways to fix them:
1. Can’t group objects
- Ensure you select at least two valid objects like images and shapes. Text boxes cannot be grouped.
2. Group option is greyed out
- Select the objects first. Grouping option enables after selecting multiple objects.
3. Objects move out of group when resizing
- Certain objects may not scale proportionally when grouped. Try ungrouping and regrouping the objects.
4. Can’t edit individual objects in group
- You need to ungroup if you want to independently edit the objects. Edit and regroup them later.
5. Lost object names after ungrouping
- Ungrouping makes Google Slides assign generic names. Rename them manually to restore object names.
With a better understanding of the group tool, you can now easily organize, align and edit objects in Google Slides. Group objects that belong together for efficient presentations.
Use the tips and solutions above to troubleshoot any issues while grouping objects in Google Slides.
